While we highly recommend nighttime commuters ride with a substantial headlight in addition to the obligatory rear blinky light, not enough people recognize the value of having a front blinky light.
A simple LED light like this one from Planet Bike can be attached to your bag’s shoulder strap, providing additional visibility and serving as a backup for when your headlight’s battery fails unexpectedly (and eventually, it will…trust us). Even a single white LED bulb can provide enough light to find the key to your apartment, and sometimes it’s even enough to navigate a dark hallway. So pick one up at your local bike shop—you’ll thank us later.
Good advice. I used to ride with only rear blinky lights, especially at dawn or dusk…but recently started using a front light that has a blink mode. I have noticed that it really helps cars at intersections and all the narrow streets here in new england.
I may be alone in this, but the blinking front light is really ineffective. It doesn’t allow drivers to plot your speed, it doesn’t light up the road, and it annoys riders traveling in the opposite direction on paths.
I see riders every night poking along with their little white blinkies, unable to see where they are going. I can understand having a little non-flashing front light as some to-be-seen insurance, but too many people buy the white blinky as their main light. Why not spend the extra $10 for an actual headlight?
eddiefel:
The post states the blinky can be used as a back-up if your headlight malfunctions, so it’s not a recomendation to use it as a primary lighting mechanism for nightime riding. Personaly, I have a Blackburn x3 on my commuter and use it in blinking mode for all my city riding. I find it’s plenty bright enough to light up the city streets, even when blinking. I can easily switch it to constant light when I go back some dark streets or into more remote roadways. I have noticed drivers are much more aware of me at all times with the blinky mode. Especially when I’m behind them. The blinking lights in their side and/or rear-view mirrors really gets their attention.
Not arguing with you Bartender, but somebody needs to tell the folks barrelling around on narrow paths thinking they’re OK with a $10 white blinky as a front light that maybe, just maybe, they are underlit. I see them alriight,
but I know they can’t see where they are going. As a supplement to a solid flashlight or in well-lit traffic, maybe. But that’s not how I see people using them here in D.C.
Then again, they’re a step up from the folks who ride in stealth mode altogether.
As 685 used to say, ‘drunk drivers cant hit what they cant see.’
Hmm…”spend the extra $10 for an actual headlight”? A headlight that costs about $20 isn’t going to be much more effective than a blinkie in illuminating the way if you’re traveling at a decent clip.
I agree that many cyclists travel “underlit”, but the minimum cost of a headlight that both lights up your path AND let’s motorist know you’re there is around $100, and it uses a battery that needs daily charging.
But yes, a good headlight is the way to go, if your coffer is sufficiently deep.
I recently wrote about recognising the need for a flashing front light, (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Psychalist/~3/196254875/i-need-flasher-sorry-is-not-enough.html), but I was determined not to get a ‘wee blinky’ but something that can be seen way down the road by oncoming traffic. I got a 54 candle power light (3 LED) and I have noticed drivers being more cautious and waiting earlier than they did before I had it. I firmly believe these high power LED lights make a difference having seen it from both the cyclists and the driver’s perspective. I also use a conventional front light but adding this $25 (in the sale) flasher has made a difference.
I finally found the perfect commuting light - Light & Motion’s Vega. It’s not cheap, but it is bright, rechargeable and compact. And Light and Motion’s customer service is phenomenal.
http://www.bikelights.com/Products/vega.htm
I have one of those, too. I should review it sometime…
Although low-powered LEDs aren’t ideal, they do make you visible (and legal) for a low price. The legal piece is critical. Most state laws only require a front headlight and rear reflector. I recommend front and back lights, but the front are required by law. More crashes occur when a car turns across and oncoming cyclist than a car overtaking a cyclist from behind. If you don’t have a front light at very least get a blinkie, if not a high-output generator light or rechargeable one like the one mentioned by Alex above.